Expandable bladder for tyre-curing apparatuses, a manufacturing method thereof, and a process for manufacturing tyres for vehicle wheels
First Claim
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1. A method of manufacturing an expandable bladder for tyre-vulcanising apparatuses, comprising the steps of:
- preparing at least one first elongated element comprising a first raw elastomer material and at least one second elongated element including a second raw elastomer material having a different composition from that of the first elastomer material;
laying said first elongated element on a toroidal support in the form of coils wound around a geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a first layer of said first elastomer material;
laying said second elongated element on said toroidal support in the form of coils wound around the geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a second layer of said second elastomer material at a radially external position to said first layer, said first and second layers having an undulated interface profile wherein said interface profile defines mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials;
mutually coupling the first and second elongated elements in the longitudinal extension of same for preparing a continuous strip-like element that is wound around the geometric axis of said toroidal support during the layering step;
wherein the coupling step is carried out simultaneously with winding of the strip-like element on said toroidal support at a point of mutual coupling between the elongated elements located on said toroidal support; and
vulcanising said bladder.
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Abstract
An expandable bladder has at least one first layer of butyl material and one second layer of silicone material, radially external to the first layer. The first and second layers have an undulated interface profile defining mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials. A process for manufacturing bladder as well as a tire molding and vulcanizing apparatus incorporating the bladder.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an expandable bladder for tyre-vulcanising apparatuses, comprising the steps of:
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preparing at least one first elongated element comprising a first raw elastomer material and at least one second elongated element including a second raw elastomer material having a different composition from that of the first elastomer material; laying said first elongated element on a toroidal support in the form of coils wound around a geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a first layer of said first elastomer material; laying said second elongated element on said toroidal support in the form of coils wound around the geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a second layer of said second elastomer material at a radially external position to said first layer, said first and second layers having an undulated interface profile wherein said interface profile defines mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials; mutually coupling the first and second elongated elements in the longitudinal extension of same for preparing a continuous strip-like element that is wound around the geometric axis of said toroidal support during the layering step; wherein the coupling step is carried out simultaneously with winding of the strip-like element on said toroidal support at a point of mutual coupling between the elongated elements located on said toroidal support; and vulcanising said bladder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of manufacturing an expandable bladder for tyre-vulcanising apparatuses, comprising the steps of:
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preparing at least one first elongated element comprising a first raw elastomer material and at least one second elongated element including a second raw elastomer material having a different composition from that of the first elastomer material; laying said first elongated element on a toroidal support in the form of coils wound around a geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a first layer of said first elastomer material; laying said second elongated element on said toroidal support in the form of coils wound around the geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a second layer of said second elastomer material at a radially external position to said first layer, said first and second layers having an undulated interface profile wherein said interface profile defines mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials; wherein the first and second elongated elements are simultaneously laid on said toroidal support at points mutually spaced apart in a circumferential direction; and vulcanising said bladder. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of manufacturing an expandable bladder for tyre-vulcanising apparatuses, comprising the steps of:
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preparing at least one first elongated element comprising a first raw elastomer material and at least one second elongated element including a second raw elastomer material having a different composition from that of the first elastomer material; laying said first elongated element on a toroidal support in the form of coils wound around a geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a first layer of said first elastomer material; laying said second elongated element on said toroidal support in the form of coils wound around the geometric axis of said toroidal support so as to form a second layer of said second elastomer material at a radially external position to said first layer, said first and second layers having an undulated interface profile wherein said interface profile defines mechanical-engagement elements between the first and second elastomer materials; and vulcanising said bladder;
wherein during the bladder-vulcanising step at least one step of injecting elastomer material in said mould is carried out to form at least one additional coating layer on the bladder.
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Specification